Police began an investigation that, with the aid of witnesses, led to the identification of 25-year-old Randahl Hill, of Hurricane, as the alleged driver of the car involved in the incident, Hurricane City Police Sgt. Brandon Buell said in a press release.

Scene of a fatal incident in which a vehicle hit a man at 300 N. 35 West, Hurricane, Utah, May 19, 2015 | Photo by Trevor Sanders, St. George News

“Witnesses provided information that Randahl was driving and investigators interviewed him regarding the details of the incident,” Buell said in the release. “Randahl told investigators that the victim was on the hood of the vehicle as he drove away very quickly and continued driving as he fell off. Witnesses have also confirmed seeing the victim on the hood of the vehicle.”

Police are still trying to determine why the victim was on the hood of Hill’s car in the first place. Hill and the victim are believed to have known each other.

Witnesses identified a black 1994 Ford Mustang as the car Hill drove during the incident. The Mustang was parked in a driveway when officers arrived on scene.

Prior to the fatal incident, witnesses told police they heard the sound of a car engine revving up. Upon their arrival, officers found acceleration marks on the road, Buell said.

Witnesses also said Hill left the scene and later returned before officers arrived. When investigators made contact with Hill, they could smell the odor of alcohol on his breath, Buell said.

Scene of a fatal incident in which a vehicle hit a man at 300 N. 35 West, Hurricane, Utah, May 19, 2015 | Photo by Trevor Sanders, St. George News

“Officers observed the way he was walking and his lack of balance, which are indicators of alcohol consumption,” Buell said. “It was indicated that both Randahl and the victim had been drinking alcoholic beverages throughout the night.”

Hill was arrested and booked into the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility on two third-degree felony charges related to automobile homicide and leaving the scene of an accident involving a death, as well as two class B misdemeanors for DUI and reckless driving.

The victim’s body has been transported to the Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy. The investigation is still active and ongoing.

“This is a very tragic situation for all those involved; our hearts go out to the families,” Buell said.

Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2015, all rights reserved.

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About the Author

Mori Kessler serves as a Senior Reporter for St. George News, having previously contributed as a writer and Interim Editor in 2011-12, and an assistant editor from 2012 to mid-2014. He began writing news as a freelancer in 2009 for Today in Dixie, and joined the writing staff of St. George News in mid-2010. He is also a shameless nerd and has a bad sense of direction, often telling people go left while he is pointing right. Numbers greater than five also confuse him.

9 Comments

Well the facts are out now- he was intoxicated, and therefore not in his right mind and had a momentary lapse of judgement.
You can charge him on the DUI- I have zero tolerance for people that drive under the influence, but the homicide charges should be dropped immedately.
GIVE THIS POOR MAN A BREAK! Hasn’t he suffered enough already?
Oh, I almost forgot…. #fundraiser.

That explains why a dark police car passed me up using excessive speeds up to 80mph est. about 5:20am just entering Hurricane as I was headed to work,I even honked to slow down because he had no lights turned on… But wow what a sad tragedy.

He is obviously not part of the ward otherwise no charges will be filed based on all reasons previously mentioned for mom who left baby in hot car and it died and no charges filed. Lapse in memory, out of normal routine, has suffered enough #fundraiser